Where Do YOU Land on the Spin Spectrum?

This canvas maps your own relationship with political communication — mark honestly, then read what the pattern says about you.

Your Political Arena

Name one specific context in your life where persuasion matters — work, family, community. This is your arena for the whole canvas.

Reason vs Instinct

When someone tries to persuade you in your arena, mark where you honestly land: do you weigh arguments carefully, or do you go with your gut first?

Pure reason

Pure gut instinct

Vague vs Specific

When YOU persuade others, mark how precise you tend to be: do you make bold specific commitments, or leave yourself plausible deniability?

Always vague

Always specific

Trust vs Scepticism

The article suggests voters identify spin in under three seconds. Where do you land when someone in your arena speaks — immediate trust or immediate scrutiny?

Instant trust

Instant scepticism

Theatre vs Substance

Look back at step 3 — does your answer still feel honest? Now mark: in your arena, how much of successful persuasion is performance versus genuine content?

All performance

All substance

Read Your Pattern

Look at your four marks. Are they consistent — do they lean one way — or do they contradict each other? Write two sentences describing what the pattern reveals about how you operate in your arena.

The One-Word Verdict

Choose ONE word that captures how you actually navigate persuasion — not how you wish you did. Write it below, then explain in one line why that word and not a more flattering one.

Why that word?

Discuss Compare your one word with a partner — are you surprised by what the other person chose?

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